Gareth Bale has reportedly decided where his future lays ahead of the upcoming transfer window after the 32-year-old confirmed that he will not retire. His decision to do so followed Wales' qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, having previously considered hanging up his boots once his contract at Real Madrid expired.
According to widespread reports, it's believed that Los Blancos opted against renewing the Welshman's deal making him available via a free transfer in the summer. But, in a turn of events, Spanish journalist Arancha Rodríguez has claimed that Bale has no intention of leaving Madrid, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Getafe among the potential destinations.
The report adds that the forward has no preference as to which Madrid-based side he joins, though he does want a one-year contract. With the forward's future on the tip of everyone's tongue, Bale's agent Joshua Barnett quickly responded to the rumours.
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Speaking to Fabrizio Romano, Barnett - in jest - sent a cheeky jibe to Getafe. He said: "I don’t even have the president of Getafe’s number."
Quick-wittingly, the Getafe social media team took to Twitter and answered Bale's agent. "Getafe, Getafe, Getafe. En ese orden," tweeted the Spanish side, which translates to 'Getafe, Getafe, Getafe. In that order'
The Getafe social media team referenced Bale's infamous 'Wales. Golf. Madrid - In That Order' banner photo following the country's qualification to the European Championships in November 2019. The act was initially in response to Zinedine Zidane, who had just resigned from the role after a season of shunning the forward from first-team minutes.
Bale, who arrived in La Liga nine years ago for a British record fee worth £85million, enjoyed a fruitful spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, though he struggled to nail down a role in the Spanish side towards the latter stages of his tenure. He featured 258 times for Los Blancos, directly contributing to 173 goals.
The Welshman was a pivotal piece in the puzzle which saw Real Madrid become the first side to win the Champions League three years in a row. He spent many of his final years at the Bernabeu either plagued with injury, out of favour or on loan at Spurs, where he controversially admitted that he used a return to build his fitness.
However, whether Bale returns or not, Spurs are eager to reinforce this summer. football.london first revealed that Antonio Conte wants as many as six arrivals this window; a centre-back, a right wing-back, two midfielders, a forward and a backup goalkeeper.
The Spurs boss told Sky Sport Italia in February: "Four players left in January. Four important players for Tottenham, two have arrived. So even numerically instead of strengthening you may have, on paper, weakened."
In April, though, the Italian boss appeared to dial things back a little, stressing the impact of the two new signings. Conte said: “I said that with these two players, despite that we lost four players in January, with these two new signings we made this squad more complete, with more balance.
"I think that it’s very important in football to have a clear idea and to have a good vision. Because in this way, the situation is more simple."
